Hinault sees non-white Tour de France winner in near future
By: Peter Cossins
Published: February 23, 2015, 15:00 GMT,
Updated: February 23, 2015, 22:36 GMT
5-time winner says Africans closing the gap on European riders
For the past eight years, Bernard Hinault has acted as ambassador for
theTropicale Amissa Bongo event in Gabon and admits that over that
period he has witnessed a rapid rise in the level of competition at
what is Africa's biggest stage race. In the wake of a second victory
in a row by an African rider, with Tunisia's Rafaa Chtioui succeeding
Eritrea's Natnael Berhane, Hinault believes African riders are getting
ever closer to capturing the biggest titles on the calendar, including
the Tour de France.
In an interview with Ouest France conducted during the 10th edition of
the race, which concluded at the weekend, Hinault suggests that the
day when an African or a Chinese rider wins the Tour is not too far
away. "They're athletes, they're there to win! Why should it only be
white riders who win?" he says.
"These guys have perhaps got something else on their side, and that's
their hunger to succeed! They really want to get out of the
difficulties they find themselves in, just as we did 60 or 70 years
ago. If you become a high-level athlete, that gives you the chance to
better yourself, to make a better life for yourself."
Although disappointed that MTN-Qhubeka, Africa's leading pro team,
were absent from the Gabon race, Hinault insists the level of
competition was still extremely high.
"They are closing the gap and some of them are already at the same
level as European riders," says Hinault. "That was already evident
last year with the victory of Natnael Berhane, who was then riding
with Europcar. I'll say again, this continent has riders of real
talent, and they've now got the equipment they need, that's no longer
a problem. What they need now are good coaches and federations that
truly want to support them."
Hinault points to MTN-Qhubeka's selection for the Tour de France as
the most obvious evidence of the progress African cycling has made.
"It's a South African team, but within its ranks there are Eritreans
and Rwandans, riders who first emerged here at the Tropicale. They are
real climbers and we will be able to see their talent this summer at
the Tour. I think it says everything that this team reminds me a bit
of the Colombian climbers who came to the Grande Boucle in the 1980s,"
says the legendary French rider.
Received on Mon Feb 23 2015 - 21:56:12 EST